Maritime Accident News

Barge Hits Casino

A shear barge broke away from its moorings recently and hit the property of the Argosy Casino-Alton, located in Alton, Illinois.  The casino suspended its operations for the first time in 17 years after the accident that occurred on an early Saturday morning.

The barge that struck the casino, along with a second one tethered to it, had been attached to a pylon near the shore by a steel cable.  The barges are meant to protect the casino complex from other river traffic and float upriver from it.  During the early hours on a Saturday, pressure resulting from ice build-up caused the steel cable to break, which sent the barges floating until they stopped against another barge housing the casino’s employee cafeteria.

No injuries or damage to the facility were reported, said Rich Laudon, vice president and general manager for Argosy Casino-Alton.  According to Alton Fire Department Captain Tim Quigley, the fire department was called to the scene of the barge collision to make sure that utilities were secure and that there was no gas leak or seeping water.

Limited Leasing Co. in Old Monroe, Missouri was expected to send a tugboat the afternoon of the accident to move the barges back into place.  A statement that was later released by Argosy-Casino-Alton did confirm that the barges were secured once again, but that the casino would be closed until the following morning.

During an interview Saturday morning, Laudon stated that Argosy Casino-Alton was going to remain closed until the barges could be moved away from the casino complex.

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